Health-Related Quality of Life in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome versus Rheumatoid Arthritis as Control Group

Abstract

AbstractThe objectives of this study were (1) evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQL) in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS); (2) to compare the HRQL of these patients with that of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and healthy Spanish reference population values (RPV); and (3) to identify the influence of sociodemographic and clinical variables on HRQL in CFS patients. We included 216 outpatients: 94 females/14 males (age 42.9 ± 9.9 years) with CFS and 94 females/14 males with RA (age 42.9 ± 9.9 years). We used a cross-sectional, observational design. Sociodemographic data, comorbidities, pain (VAS) and global functional status were determined. HRQL was measured by the SF-36 and HAQ questionnaires.CFS patients had worse scores than RA patients in all SF36 dimensions except emotional role (p < 0.01). Both CFS and RA patients had worse scores in all SF36 dimensions than RPV. In CFS patients, pain negatively influenced HRQL (p < 0.05) except for physical role, social function and emotional r...